Switch-stand



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D.v TRACY.

Paten-ted Peb. 14, 1388.

@No Model.) 2 s heets-snep 2.

D. TRACY.A SWITCH STAND.

No. 878,028. ,Patented Feb. 14. 1888.

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y VUNITED STATES PATENT Onnicn.

DWIGHT TRACY, OF NEW YORK, N. vY., ASSIGNOR TO OLIVER H. HARRIS,

OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

SWITCH-STAND.

SPECIFIGATIN' forming part of Letters Patent No. 378,025I dated February 14, 1888.

Application tiled September 3, 1886. Serial No. 212,591. (No model.) i y To @ZZ whom) it may concern.-

Beit known that I, DWIGHT TRACY, of the city and county of New York, in the State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Switch-Stands, of which the following is a specification. t v A My invention relates to safety-switch stands which are so constructed that the switch-rail is held against movement bya yielding resist- [o ance which is sufficient to prevent the switch from being surreptitiously shifted, but which will yield and permit the switch to be shifted by the wheels of a train in case it be wrongly set. Important objects of my invention are to provide a safet'yswitch stand of very simple and inexpensive construction 5 also,to provide a safety-switch stand which may also be used in connection with a stub-switch to hold the rails immovable, thereby enabling railways, in case it becomes necessary to order a stand for a stub-switch which is not worn out, to obtain a stand which may be used for the stub-switch until the latter is worn out, and may be used f with a safety-switch when it is substituted for the stub-switch5 also, to provide a secure and simple connection between aswitch-operating rod and a switch-rail.

The invention consists in novel combinations of parts hereinafter described,and pointed ont in the claims.v t

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of aswitch-stand embodying my invention, which is constructed for support on two ties, and which may be used for either a safety-switch or a stub-switch. Fig. 2 is a plan of the upper portionthereof. Fig. 2* is a horizontal section on the plane of the dotted line xx, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the upper portion of the stand,showing the operating-handle as locked in a position to render the standl capablev of use as a safety` switch stand. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the upper part of the stand in a plane at right angles to Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an elevation similar to Fig. 4, but showing the operating-handle as locked for a stub-switch. Fig. 5 1 is an elevation and partial section on the plane 0f the dotted line *i3 Fig. 3, showing more clearly the 5o means for locking the operating-handle. Fig.

6 is a horizontal section on the plane of the dotted line y y, Fig. 1, showing a safety-switch rail connected with the operating .crank and a stub switch rail and rod unconnected with the crank. Fig. 7 is a plan of the crank alone. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a switchrail and a rod connected therewith according to my invention. Fig. 9 is a vertical section of a safetyswitch stand also embodying my invent-ion and consti-noted for support on a single tie.` Fig. 10 is a plan of asafety-switch rail and a horizontal section of a safety-switch stand of modified form, but also embodying my invention. Fig. l1 is a vertical section on the plane of the dotted nnezanig. 1o. Fig. 12 is an elevation 65 l of the stand shown in Figs. 10 and 11; and Fig. 13 is a sectional View thereof on the plane of the dotted line l 1, Fig. 10. y

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the gures.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, A' designates the frame or casing of the stand, which is of plain cylindric form, with lateral `base projections or foot portions A extending in opposite directions and adapted to be supported on two ties, B. This maybe of cast i metal.

C designates the switch-operating shaft, carrying at its lower end'a crank, C', with which the switch-operating rod D is connected. One end of this rod D is connected with the crank and the other end is connected, as shown in Fig. 6,-with the safety-rail E. The switchoperating shaft is surrounded byv a sleeve, F, n having at the upper end a head,F, 'which ts 85 a cylindric bearing, c, in the upper portion of the stand A, and`having at the lowerfend a cam, F2, the purpose of which willbevher'einafter described. The shaft C is supportedlat its lower end in a bearing, a,lformed in the '90 bottom of the stand A, and is affordedsnitable bearing in the sleeve and headfF F', the

4latter beingl held concentric with thestand by fitting the bearing a. Upon the upper end of the shaft C is secured a headlor .collar,-C2, which may be held against turning .by'means of a cross-pin, b, or other means, and in which is pigvoted at b the operating-lever C3. ,The portion, of the head F which overlaps the stand A hasA formed in ita series of notches,E c, which, as shown in Fig. ,are at :equidistantl points around the circumference,-

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is guided by a rod, G, which is fixed to it andv It will be from the above description readily understood that when the operatinglever C is turned downward, so as to engage with one of thenotches c, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the shaft C and the sleeve F will be locked together, so that neither can turn independent of the other; but both may be turned together within the stand. Vhen the lever C3 is raised into a horizontal position, so as to disengage it from the notch c, the shaft C and the crank may be turned freely independent of the sleeve and head F F. 'When the operating handle or lever G3 is turned downward into engagement with one of the notches c, it may be locked in that position by anysuitable means, and when locked in that position the handle C lies so close to the side of the stand A, as shown in Fig. 3, that there is no opportunity for the introduction of a bar between them in order to turn the shaft and sleeve G F surreptitiously.

As a means of locking the handle C", I have represented a key, d, which consists of a dat plate notched at its lower edge, as shown at d in Fig. 5*. This key is free to slide in a mortise or slideway, d, formed in the head C2 just back of the upper end of the handle C", which projects somewhat above its pivot b. The key ci is free to slide lengthwise, its motion being limited by shoulders d, and near one end it is perforated at d4, to receive a padlock, d5. When the lock is removed, the key can be slid endwise sufficiently to bring the notch d coincident with the handle C3, and the latter may then be swung upward into a horizontal position. To lock the handle, the key is pulled back until it obtrudes itself in the way of the handle G3, and is locked bypassing the padlock through the eye d4.

In order to afford a yielding resistance to the turning of the shaft C and the sleeve F when they are locked together, I have represented a yoke, G, which is arranged horizontally and receives the shaft C and the lower end of the sleeve loosely through it, and which also has a shoulder and bearingsurface, e, which engages with the cam F2. The yoke G extends through a bearing, e', in the lowei` portion of the stand A, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, and this guiding-rod G is surrounded by springs G, which bear at one end against the interior of the stand and at the other end against the end of the yoke G.

As shown in Fig. 6, the cam F2 is square or rectangularin its outline, and when one of these square sides bears against the shoulder e the latter acts by the force ofthe spring G2 to hold the cam, together with the 'sleeve F and the shaft C locked thereto, against turning. Il", however, a suiicient force be applied through the switch-operating rod D, as would be pro-- and sleeve F2 F to turn, soasto bring another side of the cam against the shoulder or engaging device e. From Fig. 6 it will be seen that if anything more than one-eighth of a rotation is made the shoulder or engaging device e will come nearly opposite another face of the cam F2, and will, by the pressure of the spring G2, act automatically to complete the turning ot' the cani and shaft C.

Safety-switches which will be automatically shifted by the action ofthe wheels of a train in case they are wrongly set are becoming more and more popular on railways, and in some States legislative enactments have been made compelling railways lo .replace worn out switcheswithsafety-switchesinallcases. Sonictiines a railway will be obliged to replace a switchvstand before theswitch itselfis worn out; and one object of my invention has been to provide a stand which could be used with astuhswitch, and which, when the stubvswitch is worn out and replaced with a safetyswitch, could also be used with equalV facility with a safety-switch. The stub-switch requires a greater throw than the safety-switch, and to enable the stand to be used with either switch I make the crank C with two holes, di, at different distances from its center, as shown in Fig. 7, and with either of which the switclr operating rod may be connected. VVhen'th'e switch stand is to be employed for a safetyswitch, the rod should be connected with the hole nearest the center, making the crank of shortest length, and if it is to be used for a stub-switch the crank should be connected with the hole farthest from the center, making a longer crank. In Fig. G I have shown a stub-switch rail, E', and its operating-rod D', which may be connected with the crank C.

When the switch-stand is to be used with a stub-switch, the shaft and cani C Fz should be locked fast to the stand, so that they cannot turn relatively thereto; and to enable the stand to be so used I have represented upon the side of the stand A notched lugs or ears f, which are set at right angles to each other, and one ot' which is represented in Fig. 5, while both are shown in Fig. 2*. If the shaft() is turned so that the operating-handle C3, when swung downward, will engage not only with the notch y'Ihe rod D has at the end a yoke, D", which extends under the base ofthe rail E', and has at the top overhanging lips or flanges d, which engage with a circular block, di, which is divided so as to tit opposite sides ofthe rail, and is anged to engage with the overhanging lips d6. The device is locked to the rail by -means of a key, d', driven in between the web of the IOC) rail andone section of the block dl, and a firm connection is thus produced'between the rod D' and the rail E,which will also permit of the rod D' being swung at different angles relatively to the rail, the overhanging lips d turning on the fianged block d.

The switch-stand shown in Fig. 9 diEers from that previously described only in having a single base projection or foot portion, A', whereby it is supported upon a single tie, B, and in being adapted for use only in connection with a safety-switch. The crank C for this stand is of a single length, and is connected with the switch-operating rod'D at an invariable distance from the center of the shaft C. The construction and arrangement of thesleeve F, withits head and cam F' F2, are the same as before described, and the operatinghandle C3 may be swung into a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 9, in order to free the shaft from the sleeve and cam and enable the switch to be set by hand, or may be swung downward into engagement with one of the series of notchescinthe head F of the sleeveF.

lt is advantageous to have a number of notches at equidistant points in the sleevehead F', because then, after the switch is set automatically by a train, it is only necessary to turn the shaft back one-quarter of a revolution in each instance in order to set it by' hand, and automatically the sleeve F, with its head F' and cam F2, will be advanced step by step continuously in one direction around the shaft C.

Referring now to the switch-,stand shown in Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, which represent a ground-lever stand, A designates the frame or casing wherein the parts are secured, and which is adapted to be bolted to a tie, B. F designates a sleeve which extends transversely through and i's fitted to bearings in opposite sides of the frame or casing A, and has formed upon it a cam, F2, represented in Figi 1l as being triangular or having three faces and a head, F', which overlaps said frame or casing A. The shaft G extends axially through and is journaled in the sleeve F, and has at one end a head, O2, which is provided with a lateral projection forming a crank, C',with which the switch-operating rod D is connected, as best shown in Figs. l() and l2. I

The operating-handle C? is pivoted at b in the head C2, and may be swung so as to project radially from the head, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 13, or so as to project parallel with the axis of the head, as shown by full lines in Figs. 1Q and 13. In the latter position. the end of the handle C3 engages with one of several notches c in the head F', which correspond with the three sides ofthe camv F2. IIhe cam is acted upon by a yielding engaging device, e, which has projecting from ita stem, G', fitting a bearing, e', in the frame or casing A,and surrounded'bya spiral spring,Gz,which holds the engaging device fe against the face of the cam F2. In order to vhold the engaging device e from 'dropping down out of engage- When the operating-handle (l3 is swung into' a radial position relative to the shaft C, as

'shown by dotted lines in Fig. 13, its endis disengaged from the notches c and the shaft C may be readily turned to shift the switchlrail E by hand. When the operating-handle C is swung into a position parallel with the shaft C, as :shown in Fig. 10 and in full lines in Fig. 13, its end engages with the notch c, and 'so locks the cam F2 and the shaft C together, that neither can be turned independent of the other, but both -will be held against turning by the yielding resistance voffered by the engaging device .6.

What lclaim as my invention, and secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, with a switch-stand, a crank-shaft and crank, and an operating-handle, of a sleeve loosely surrounding the shaft,

desire toA and whichA has no connection with .the'shaft 2. The combination, with a switch-stand, a"

crank-shaft and crank, and an operating-handle,of a sleeve surrounding the shaft and pro.- vided with a cam or engaging device, a yielding spring-actuated device on the stand, and a notched head or'angc on the sleeve, with whichthe operating-handle may engage to connect the shaft and sleeve, substantially as herein described. A

3. rlhe combination, with a switch-stand, a crank-shaft and crank, and an operating-handle, of a sleeve surrounding the shaft-and provided at one end with a notched head, with which the operating-'handle may engage to connect the shaft and sleeve, and provided at the other end with a cam, and a yielding spring-actuated engaging device arranged to move transversely'to the shaft and acting uponvthe cam, substantiallyas herein described.

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IIS

l 4. The combinatiomwith the switch-stand,

the crank-shaft and its pivoted operating-'ham scribed.

' 5. The combination, withy a switch stand and a crank-shaft provided at one end with a crank and at that end fitting a bearing in the stand andprovided at the other end with a pivoted operating-handle, of the sleeve F, fitting a bearing in the top of the stand'and there provided with a notched head for the engagement of the operatinghandle, and provided with a cam, F2, and the spring-actuated yoke and guiderod G G', vforming a yielding engaging device, substantially as herein described.

6. As a new article, the switch stand herein described, having a crank-shaft the crank of which is constructed for attachment of a switch-operating rod at dierent distances from its center, an operating-handle pivoted so as to swing in a vertical plane, a yielding lock for opposing a yielding resistance to the turning of the shaft when operated with a split or point switch, and a positive lock for holding the shaft positively against turning when operated in connection with a stub switch, substantially as herein described.

7. The combination, with the stand, crankshaft, and yielding engaging devices of asafety-switch stand, of an operating-handle pivoted to swing in a plane parallel with the shaft and closing against the stand when swung into its locked position, and locking devices for holding the handle in such locked position, so that a lever or bar cannot be introduced between the handle and stand for turning the shaft, substantially as herein described.

8. The combination, with a switchstand, a crank-shaft, and vpivoted operating-handle, of a sleeve surrounding the shaft and provided with a head in which are notches for the engagement of the operating-handle at equidistant points around its circumference, and also provided with a cam, and a spring-actuated engaging device arranged upon the frame and acting upon said cam, substantially as herein described.

9. The combination,with the crank-shaft of a safety-switch stand, provided at the end with a. head wherein is pivoted an operating-ham die, oi' a locking-key fitted to a slideway in said head and notched to permit the swinging of the handle when the key is adjusted to proper position, but not otherwise, substantially as herein described.

DWIGHT TRACY.

Witnesses:

C. HALL, FREDK. HAYNEs. 

